MASK REQUIREMENT - The number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in Louisiana and while Northwest Louisiana hasn’t suffered the brunt as bad as the southern part of the state – the increases are noticeable enough to cause alarm among local health and city officials. Latest report from the Louisiana Department of Health Shows Caddo Parish increased from 3,706 positive cases on Sunday to 3,740 on Monday and has 243 deaths related to the virus. Responding to the news yesterday afternoon Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins called a press conference for a special announcement.
"After consulting with many of our area businesses, consulting with many of our area leaders, I'm issuing an executive order requiring that customers wear masks or face coverings when entering a business establishment," Perkins said. " It also requires businesses to post signage at all entrances clearly indicating requirements and prohibitions. This executive order goes into effect Wednesday July 8th at 5pm and stays in effect until August 8th at 11:59 pm."
Perkins said he hopes to be joined by Caddo Parish with a similar order. He also mentioned speaking with Bossier Mayor Lorenz Walker about the mandate. The order applies to all businesses that interact with the public and to all customers with the exception of those with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask or face covering.
Dr. Martha Whyte, medical director for the Louisiana Department of Health, Region 7, also took a moment to explain that wearing masks is about public health than politics.
"This is not a political issue, this is a health issue," Dr. Whyte explained. "If you are listening to people who are telling you that it is wrong to wear masks because of one political party or another, don't listen to them because you need to be worrying about your own health, you need to be worrying about the health of your neighbors, your friends, your loved ones, your community."
Shreveport Police Department will be enforcing the mask-wearing mandate, and businesses will be issued a warning on their first violation and a maximum fine up to $500 on a second violation. Mayor Perkins asked the public to call SPD at 673-7300 to report any violations.
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